2 Masbate ex-mayors face drug raps
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal charges against two former mayors of Masbate who were accused of maintaining two “shabu” laboratories in the province, police said yesterday.
Charged with the manufacture of illegal drugs and conspiracy to manufacture illegal drugs were Cherry Abapo Jr., former mayor of San Fernando town; and Lester Abapo, former mayor of Milagros town and currently a barangay chairman in Masbate.
They were charged along with Ponga Lee, the foreigner who allegedly supervised the operation of the two shabu laboratories; and one Fernando Bravante.
“Cherry is presently under our custody. We are just waiting for the arrest warrant that will be issued against Lester, Ponga and Fernando,” Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, head of the Legal and Investigation Division of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), told the Manila Bulletin.
It will be recalled that Lester was released during the inquest proceedings for further investigation along with Provincial Board Member Lovely Abapo and Bravante.
Lovely was eventually exonerated and not included in the charge sheet.
The cases, Merdegia said, has already been raffled off to Judge Manuel Sese Jr., of the Regional Trial Court Branch 45 in Masbate City.
The charges stemmed from the two operations in Masbate last February 14 in which two laboratories manufacturing metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were raided in Barangay Nursery and Barangay Tugba.
Cherry was arrested in one of the laboratories, said Merdegia. He said the Abapo family was found to own the properties were the shabu laboratories were set up.
During the raid, voluminous dangerous drugs, equipment, and assorted firearms and ammunition were seized by police.
Aside from drug charges, Cherry and Lester Abapo are also facing illegal possession of firearms charges.
Merdegia said their next course of action is to seek for the change of venue of the trial in Metro Manila, noting the influence of the Abapo political clan in Masbate.
Just a few months ago, a barangay captain who witnessed one of the raids recanted his statement in favor of the Abapos.
“It’s not safe there. We really have to transfer the venue of the trial for the safety of our witnesses,” said Merdegia.